Service a part of Life Skills class at Triway Junior High

Friday

TRIWAY DISTRICT -- An errand or a task conducted at a local business or in someone's home is part of the curriculum in Billy Clyde's Life Skills class at Triway Junior High.

Those acts might become a lesson in math, manners, consumer science or, perhaps most importantly, independence.

The population of students served -- described as experiencing multiple disabilities -- don't always fit into a regular school day, said Principal Mitch Caraway. But the young people have found a niche in Clyde's classroom, where they pursue "academics through experience."

Into everyday events, "We combine as much learning experience as we possibly can," Clyde said.

At a staff member's recent garage sale, students helped organize and price items, then they cooked and sold hot dogs on the day of the sale. At Moreland Fruit Farms, they helped to transplant seedlings with each student tackling a certain part of the job.

Earlier in the year, class members employed a variety of skills in serving a tailgate luncheon to Triway faculty members before the Ohio State/Michigan football game. During the Thanksgiving season, students prepared an entire meal for guests, once again dividing up the tasks, Clyde said.

Recreation and math were combined in a bowling party and social skills were practiced during breakfast at The Parlor Restaurant.

If the class is planning a party in the park, students chart the foods members of the class would like to eat.

"Then we go shopping," Clyde said, with students assigned to specific grocery aisles to pick up identified items.

On their way to field trips, the city of Wooster itself often serves as a venue for a scavenger hunt.

"Who can find the library, the fire department?" Clyde will ask his students. "We have a checklist."

Community service is another component of applied learning. For instance, "We do a litter walk around the school every three weeks," Clyde said.

While students also work in textbooks, the application of classroom learning to real-life experience "makes a huge difference," Clyde said, a sentiment echoed by parents.

They're telling Clyde, for example, "We're reading road signs, which we never did before."

"We now have a washer/dryer, fridge, oven and sink in the room," he said. "We do many chores for other teachers and prepare our own lunches and treats throughout the day."

"We're trying to teach them how to get along in life," Caraway said.

"We decided to have (the class) at the junior high because we could reassign some rooms and it's accessible," Caraway said. "The other reason is we feel this building being smaller and on one floor lends itself to a better environment" for special needs students.

Students in the Life Skills class are also able to take some regular academic classes and work in the cafeteria.

Primarily serving seventh-12th-grade students, the class could actually accommodate individuals up to 21 years of age, Caraway said.

The program might require three to four years to complete and next year will begin to blend with the high school program, offering Life Skills participants the opportunity to transition into the next phase of academics or into a work setting.

All participants are Triway students, Caraway said.

"The kids have grown in so many ways that would not have been possible without the class," Clyde said. "Parents are happy with better manners and an increased independence. Everyone benefits."

Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at 330-264-1125, Ext. 2230, or e-mail lhall@the-daily-record.com.

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